Mortality and the Artist

It's a subject no one likes to think about.  Personally, I think
it's profoundly unfair that an artist's work outlives the artist, but
there you go.  

The untimely loss of my dearest artist friend to a traffic accident
recently has had me pondering this for quite a few days.  He had
been working on some major projects which were garnering museum
involvement, as well as painting for upcoming exhibitions. 
Tragically, these shall remain incomplete, and we will not see his
vision realized other than through sketches stuffed in boxes and
drawers.

Part of my ponderings led me to the corners of my own studio with a
critical eye looking for incomplete projects - several jumped out at me
and I began to plan their completion as a priority. It is so easy for
me to procrastinate and in doing that, some things I have wanted to do
for years just sit there in everlasting wait-mode, the 'To be or Not to
be' area.

Another thing, in some artists studios, there are inevitably works
which for one reason or another just didn't come off right - I call
them 'stinkers'. Personally I stick these pieces in a large portfolio
if on paper, or roll them up if on canvas, and put them in a 'to be
reviewed, re-worked or just plain chucked' area - decisions to be made
later - again procrastination.

As in the case of my friend who also had his own private
to-be-dealt-with stash, I was concerned that a few of them might show
up in a gallery retrospective of his work some day.  I knew some of the
pieces he was planning on re-working and cringed a little for
him just in case.  Because I also would not want that to happen to any of my
rejects, yesterday was spent ripping up, cutting up liberally with big
scissors, and throwing out pieces I just knew I would not get around to
handling.  It was in fact liberating because a decision was
finally made about them and my attention could go elsewhere - to the
creation of fresh new pieces. When they were in the 'maybe' pile, it
was a little bit of dunnage occupying my creative universe, but it was
imperceptible until I actually dealt with them. I can rest easy knowing
that when I depart this life, hopefully in the very distant future,
some well meaning soul will not hold my rejects as precious pieces of
art. I must now continue to keep this pile weeded out.

As an aside to the weeding process in the studio, I had to do this when
no one was around, including my wonderful studio assistant who
protested the throwing out of a piece or two in the past.  Because
the work must meet the artists personal standards, only the artist can
decide if it is good enough or not, does it meet the mark? True,
sometimes an objective viewpoint is necessary, but in the end, what the
author of the work decides about it must stand.

Back to my friend's work - he was a terrific artist, but did not leave
behind a huge body of work. I am so thankful to be the owner of one,
and now wish I had a few more pieces. The family has decided that no
more of his paintings will be sold in the near future, although some
limited edition giclees will still be available. A lovely collection of this artists
giclees may still be available at Madd Matters Gallery.

Some advice for collectors and lovers of art - if you like the work of a living
artist, for heavens sake, make arrangements to buy it - at some point
it may be unavailable for purchase or cost an astronomical amount, and
besides, buying a living artist's work enables them to continue
creating and adding more beauty and meaning to all of our lives. Let's
not take for granted they will always be there.